A design for a new clubfoot treatment, the parents view

1 in 1000 babies is born with clubfoot (Ponseti,
2008). Nowadays this handicap is treated with the
Ponseti method; in 6 to 8 weeks the deformity is
corrected. Each week the foot is manipulated and a
cast to secure the new position is applied. This cast
goes up to the groin of the baby.
With a survey, held among the parents of children
with clubfoot, the main problems were mapped.
Clothing does not fit, the care of the child is difficult,
parents get bad reactions from other people, the cast
is heavy and hard which makes hugging less tempting
and when the cast is just applied, it is wet and cold
which makes the body temperature drop. From these
problems scenarios were created which were used
to determine requirements for a more user-friendly
treatment method.
Eight concepts were made to solve the problems and
they were presented to the parents. The parents are
the focus group and therefore their opinion weighed
highly in the concept choice.
The chosen concept was detailed in cooperation with
Orthin. The final prototype was than shown once
again to the parents to get their opinion and they
were quite satisfied. The next step will be a usability test.